Last Day in Kiev!!

I haven't posted anything on the second trip (mostly because Jamie is not with me this time).  We are flying home tomorrow and are so excited to get home.  We have our final appointment today at 2pm at the US Embassy to get Maria's Visa into the US.  We are staying in Kiev with a wonderful young woman who uses her apartment as a ministry to help people who are adopting in Ukraine.  She doesn't charge anything and is full of hospitality and grace!  We are so blessed to have met her!!!

We will post pictures and tell you about this trip after we get home!  Thanks for following along on this wonderful journey.  Maria is doing great and we are so blessed to have her in our family!!!

God is so good!!!

To my family at home....I love you Jamie, Jake, Mark, Nicholas and Brooke!!!!  xoxoxoxoxo

Maria Left the Orphanage Today with Kelly!

Kelly left with Pam on Saturday to complete the adoption process.  My parents arrived Sunday to help me with school, food, laundry, lunches and all the other things that Kelly takes care of that I have no clue about!

After a few days in Kherson of running around, Kelly sent me a text message today with a picture of Maria.  Under the picture she simply wrote, "I got our daughter out to the orphanage!"  I was at a business lunch with seven other men when I received the note.  I passed it around the table for everyone to see and I got goose bumps (I admit that I held back tears at the table)!  Yes - after mountains of paperwork and an exhausting trip to Ukraine, we finally have our daughter with us!  This statement is probably over used but "Praise God"!

Kelly said Maria didn't shed many tears and was more than ready to get out of there.  She has a "no looking back" attitude right now and is ready to start her new life with us.  She told Kelly through the translator that she will be a good daughter and behave!  I wish I could be there with Kelly to share this time with her and be with Maria during these first few days as a Leggiero!

Our kids are all excited.  I know they are anxious and get the sense that they all do not know how to take this all.  Understandable given I don't know how to take it sometimes!

Our prayer at this point is a safe and timely return for Kelly, Pam and Maria.  They are scheduled on a flight Saturday that would get them home Saturday night.

Maria Grace Leggiero...welcome to the family...we love you!